“Unjustifiable”, “Unjust”, “An execution” are some of the qualifiers used by relatives of David Ordaz Jr., from 34 years, who was riddled the 14 March Front to his father, mother and sister, by agents of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD).
As a result of the case, relatives, children who were orphaned and Attorneys released a federal and state lawsuit for violation of civil rights, negligence and wrongful death against the LASD and agents Remin Pineda, Edwin Navarrete, Jaime Romero and Nathaniel Trujillo.
The lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles alleges that officers used “unjustifiable deadly force” against Ordaz Jr., who had allegedly told his sister that he wanted to end his life and was holding a knife when officers arrived at his home. in East Los Angeles them.
A video released by the attorney Ahdoot Adamson shows the moments when Ordaz Jr. makes an apparent signal to be shot in the chest, nervously touches his beard, and holds the knife in his right hand.
The video shows the man taking a few steps in the opposite direction to the position where the agents were.
In a matter of seconds, they fire two bursts of non-lethal shots, David turns to flee, the knife falls from his hands, he trips and falls to the ground, away from the agents and immediately receives the hail of bullets.
Lawrence Nguyen’s forensic medical report shows that all but two bullets struck him in the back and side.
In the video it can also be seen that David Ordaz Jr. is defenseless on the sidewalk where he receives the last fatal bullet.
According to the autopsy report, the bullet embedded itself in the chest, penetrated through the right lung and ended up in the cavity on the same side.
“There is a video that tells the truth about what happened in this case of violation of civil rights,” said attorney Federico C. Sayre. “Yes, this was an execution. He did nothing when he was on the floor”.
“They broke my heart”
Sitting in a wheelchair and enduring the inclemencies of the suffocating heat, Edelmira Ramírez, mother of David Ordaz Jr., told Real America News disconsolate that her deceased son “was the first to be born… we waited for him with so much joy”.
“As a mother I am dying in life ; I still remember and I go out to the street to cry, but I don’t want to go to the sidewalk because I think my son is still lying there, “he said. “Those who took his life broke my heart and it is unfair; I only ask God for them. ”
Hilda Pedroza, sister of David Ordaz Jr., was who made the emergency call at 911, at approximately 2: 00 pm of that 24 in March, when his brother told him that he wanted to kill himself. He suffered from anxiety and depression.
“I feel guilty for calling them for help,” said Pedroza. “We would give up everything in life to have him home again; It hurts me more for my parents and my heart is broken. ”
Negligence
The lawsuit filed by attorneys Alan Ahdoot, Christopher Adamson and Federico C. Sayre, includes the widow, Jazmine Lucille Moreno; to the three orphaned children: Emily (15 years), Wasteland (10) and David Ortiz III (7); David’s parents, David Ordaz Moreno and Edelmira Ramírez; his siblings: Leonel Ordaz, Robert Ordaz, Gabriela Hernández and Hilda Pedroza (brothers), as well as María Madera and Juan Pedroza Jr.
The Ordaz family alleges in the lawsuit that the LASD sheriffs handled the case negligently, where instead of mitigating the situation they fired a barrage of bullets at the father.
“My dad was my best friend; his love for me was unconditional ”, said between thick tears, Emily Ordaz. “He suffered from depression and anxiety. “The bailiffs had no mercy on him or my family, or his children.”
For his part, David Ordaz Moreno, the native of Jalisco, Mexico, recalled that traumatic moment when saying that: “I did not expect that to happen; I thought the sheriffs would do things the way they should be, but they didn’t, they killed him in front of me and I couldn’t do anything … That’s unjustifiable. ”
“The worst of all is that we saw the police [alguaciles] laughing at my mother,” denounced Hilda Pedroza.
In a statement, Elizabeth Espinoza, spokesperson for LASD, stated: “Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Mr. Ordaz. This investigation remains active and upon completion will be forwarded to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division, who will review and determine the legality of the shooting. This incident was captured with a body camera; the video of the incident containing these images will be released in the near future. ”
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a written statement that he was concerned about the officers’ involvement in this shooting .
“One of the agents has been relieved of his duties and his powers of attorney have been suspended. law enforcement officer, pending the outcome of the investigation. ”